The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12
OUT IN TIPTOY.
INTERESTING HISTORY OF MT.
ZION, TENN,
And a Sketch or the Surrounding
COuntry-A Land Of MIX
and Honey.
[coIHxsroSDrSos OF TIE APPEAL. /

place, unlike others, has, strange to
say, two names. A postoffice was
needed here, aud as there was already
place of that same name in the
State, the name of "Munford" was
assumed by Mt. Zion. 1t is about as
old as Randolph, aud Randolph is the
oldest town in the county-once the
rival Of Memphis. 1t is within one
and one-half miles of the Paducah
railroad and in that distance also OF
its rival city" Atoka, and within
seven miles of the river" Its sur
rounding country is very fertile and
beautiful is densely populated with
thrifty farmers who present an APP
pearance of contentment, prosperity
and independence. Mt. Zion has
been for years a central point for
gatherings Of the people, not only for
the purpose of having sermons aud
keeping up the church, but for Civ
ing attention to public speaking on
all important topics concerning
county affairs and all other questions
that a progressive community should
take an interest in. 1t certainly has
a history unusually creditable in its
efforts to uphold the principles Of
virtue and morality and whatever
pertained to the cause of religion, or
that effected the prosperity and hap
piness of the surrounding country.
Saloons were only tolerated for very
short periods; and opposition to these
have always been so open and out
spoken that finally no dealer in spir-
ituous liquors would think of open
ing up here, the pressure having
been so forcible that the last one sus-
pended business twelve years ago.
Their great object has been FIRST to
foster and sustain churches and
schools, aud this having been a sue
cess, the building up and improving
the appearance of the place was next
attended to. 1t has therefore grown
to be very attractive and prosper
GUS little village, with some hand
some residences, n very costly high
school building or college, which, be-
ing of brick and on the modern style
OF architecture, stands out boldly as
you approach within several miles Of
the place. Its church, mills, gins,
blacksmith and wood and shoe shops,
and its we'll built storehouses-most-
ly situated in cluster of fine forest
trees--with its Masonic hall and sub
urban cottage residences, renders it
very pretty place, and the town for
peaceful, quiet people to enjoy life and
be happy. The college, which was To-
Gated here under the auspices of the
Methodist Conference eight or ten
years ago, has not reached the high
standard of success that was conf
IDENTIFY anticipated, yet it has had its
graduating classes, and undoubted-
ly it has been to this end of
Upton county and a part of
Shelby a beacon light in the cause of
education that has shone out efful-
gently. The good effects within o
large scope of the surrounding coun-
try had been very apparent and gen.
orally conceded. 1t has contributed
many teachers Tor the common
schools, has turned out some very
useful young ladies and gentlemen
fer most any vocation, and has especi-
ally been of use in helping in liber-
al way young men preparing for the
ministry. 1t has been, probably, more
successful under the able manage
ment of the Rev. Hardin j. Turner
than before or since he had charge
of it. At present there is fine |
school, an efficient corps OF teachers,
and much is expected of the pupils |
who will in short time be on ex-
animation. A grand concert is to
to be given, also, which, as usual,
will be attended with an overcrowded
house.
Mount Zion, SO old and well estab-
lished, does not like to yield its first
first name, but it is likely that in the
course of another decade one will
seldom hear It's first name called.
Shakespeare has said there was moth
ing in name; but the name of this
place certainly indicates a love for
biblical terms, and its subsequent
history shows that the same leaning
to Christianity has made it unusual
ly prosperous. The merchants here
do large cash business, besides
furnishing on a credit extensive
ly. Competition has brought goods
and supplies of all kinds very low, and
one house here, backed by ample
means, does exclusively a cash bust
ness. The result has been beneficial
to the community at large, for when
goods are low people are more apt to
keep out of debt and debt has been the
curse of the land. On the other side
of the question of cash and credit,
some people could not get along if
some merchant did not assist them
Hence, it seems impossible to intro
duce the cash system exclusive, at
least in cotton country. Much
wheat, corn, oats and clover is grown
in the country. Hogs, poultry, cat
tie, horses and mules are raised for
home use, and much is supplied to
your Memphis boarding houses from
out this way. 1t is the land of chick
ems, eggs, butter, fruit, vegetables,
etc., and the Memphis peddler or
huckster wagon is seen on every
road, has become standard traffic.
and benefits the people greatly. This
does much towards encouraging the
practical introduction of the cash
system.
No country is better for the grasses,
clover, vegetables or anything of a
vinous nature, than this. The wild
peas once grew spontaneously; the
range for stock was unequaled in
any land in the early settlement.
Cotton grows well, aud grain of all
kinds, but the farm ers are turning
their attention more and more to
the production of that which is
used at home. There seemed but
little hope for the abandoned
places in old fields until the intro
duction OF what seemed very insig-
nifcant and only experimental and
visionary but a few years ago. This
same substance is destined in all fu-
ture time to be included in the lists
~ form sunnliea lilo hther ahsoluta